Rajon Rondo’s untimely injury could cost him $14 million. Sean Deveney of Sporting News thinks the point guard’s fractured thumb will make the Chicago Bulls’ offseason a lot more interesting as they decide on his fate before June 30.
Rondo, who will miss the remainder of the Bulls-Celtics first round series after suffering a fractured thumb in the third quarter of Game 3, made decisions a little bit harder for vice president of basketball operation John Paxon and general manager Gar Forman.
Tricky Situation
The Bulls signed Rondo to a 2-year, $27 million contract last summer with the second year of that deal (worth $14 million) non-guaranteed.
Now, the Bulls front-office has to decide if they’ll exercise their option on Rondo’s second year or waive him on June 30, a day before the start of the free-agency season.
According to Deveney, the Bulls are uncertain if the playmaker deserves that amount of money. After all, Chicago was reportedly on the verge of parting ways with Rondo as early as January after throwing a towel at assistant coach Jim Boylan. They eventually kept him in hope of trading for something, but a strong performance (12.0 points, 8.0 assists and 6.2 rebounds in his last 13 games) towards the homestretch mark of the regular-season might have changed that perception.
Rondo carried his momentum into the postseason, where he showed flashes of his old self in the first two games of the series against his former team, the Boston Celtics.
The championship-winning guard recorded 12 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists in Game 1 and then followed it up with 11 points, 14 assists, 9 rebounds and 5 steals performance in Game 2 to help the Bulls get a commanding 2-0 series lead.
Rondo sealed the deal
Deveney hears from scribes that Rondo’s strong showing towards the end of the season and the first two games of the postseason, regardless of the outcome of the first-round series, would be enough for the Bulls’ higher ups to exercise their team option on that second year.
While Jerian Grant showed something to be excited about his future and the Bulls remained high on trade deadline acquisition Cameron Payne, these two are pretty much raw for a full-time role at the point. Of course, returning from the thumb injury and playing more significant minutes would factor in as well, but there's a general feeling that Rondo already sealed his fate next season.
The Bulls, whose ability to bring in another max player hinges on Dwyane Wade’s decision (whether or not he picks up his player’s option on the second year worth more than $23M), are reportedly leaning on that direction as they look to give this group (Jimmy Butler, Rondo and Wade) another try.
